Mary R. L. Larson

Mary R. L. Larson, of Wabasha, formerly of Lake City and Red Wing, passed away Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center in Wabasha, where she had been a resident since 2004, at the age of 86.

Mary Rilda Lillian DeMent was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on July 9, 1927, the daughter of Frank and Marie (Haske) DeMent. Mary's parents, Frank and Marie divorced, and Marie married John Rusch, Oct. 11, 1933, in Mason City, Iowa. Mary, with the help of Art and Adele Rusch, grew up in the Belvidere area of Goodhue County, and received her education to the eighth grade at St. Peter's Lutheran School in Belvidere. Mary worked at the old Red Wing City Hospital where she met Don Larson of Red Wing. Mary and Don were married on July 1, 1949, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Red Wing. Mary and Don later moved to Lake City, where they had three children, Eugene "Geno," Neil and Gayle. Mary worked a short time for Tony Budewitz Meat Market in Lake City until Don's death in November of 1963. She went to work in 1966 as a cook at Lincoln High School in Lake City until 1971. She also worked as a cook at Berlin's Whistle Stop, Villa Maria, Frontenac Ski Lodge and the Methodist Campus, all in Frontenac. Mary later married Larry Crawford in Lucerne Valley, Calif.; they later divorced. Mary then returned to Lake City where she worked for Rolf Lagerquist, sewing sail boat tape for sails and as bakery prep at the local Kwik Trip Store. She was also a former Tupperware dealer, Avon Representative, Cub Scout and Campfire Leader, and a Sunday school teacher.

Mary enjoyed gardening, cooking and canning, dancing, and being with family and friends. She was a former member of the Lake City American Legion Auxiliary.

Mary is survived by her three children, Geno (Sue Clark) Larson of Faribault, Neil (Cathy) Larson of Tomball, Texas, and Gayle (Loren) Hauschildt of Plainview; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; and one brother, Frank DeMent of Lake City.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Don, half-sister, Jeanette (Lawrence) Imann, half-brother, Don (Sharon) Rusch, and aunt and uncle that raised her.

Friends and family may visit Friday morning, Sept. 13, from  8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Schleicher Funeral Homes, Lake City Chapel in Lake City. Graveside services will be held at 12:05 p.m. Friday at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Schleicher Funeral Homes, Lake City Chapel, 1865 S. Hwy 61, PO Box 300, Lake City, MN, 55041, 651-345-5778.

Guest register may be signed online at schleicherfuneralhomes.com